RPA (Robotic Process Automation) using JavaScript typically involves automating web-based tasks such as filling forms, scraping data, or interacting with a website. JavaScript can be used alongside browser automation tools like Puppeteer or Playwright.

Below is a sample project to demonstrate RPA using JavaScript:

Project Overview: Automating Google Search

Objective: Create a JavaScript-based RPA script that opens Google, searches for a term, and extracts the titles of the first few search results.

Tools:

1. Node.js: To run JavaScript outside the browser.
2. Puppeteer: A Node.js library for controlling a headless browser.

Steps to Build the RPA Script

1. Prerequisites

• Install Node.js.
• Create a project folder and navigate to it:

  mkdir rpa-js && cd rpa-js
  

• Initialize a Node.js project:

  npm init -y
  

• Install Puppeteer:

  npm install puppeteer
  

2. JavaScript Code

Create a file named

rpa_google_search.js

const puppeteer = require('puppeteer');

(async () => {
 try {
 // Launch the browser
 const browser = await puppeteer.launch({ headless: true }); // headless:true means no UI
 const page = await browser.newPage();

 // Navigate to Google
 await page.goto('https://www.google.com');

 // Wait for the search box to load
 await page.waitForSelector('input[name="q"]');

 // Type the search query and press Enter
 const searchQuery = 'RPA using JavaScript';
 await page.type('input[name="q"]', searchQuery);
 await page.keyboard.press('Enter');

 // Wait for the results page to load
 await page.waitForSelector('#search');

 // Extract search result titles
 const results = await page.evaluate(() => {
 const titles = [];
 const elements = document.querySelectorAll('h3'); // Get all result titles
 elements.forEach(element => {
 if (element.innerText) titles.push(element.innerText);
 });
 return titles;
 });

 console.log(`Search Results for "${searchQuery}":`);
 console.log(results);

 // Close the browser
 await browser.close();
 } catch (error) {
 console.error('Error:', error);
 }
})();

3. Run the Script

• Execute the script in the terminal:

  node rpa_google_search.js
  

• The script will log the titles of the search results to the console.

How It Works

1. Browser Automation: Puppeteer launches a headless version of Chrome.
2. Navigation: The script navigates to Google and performs a search.
3. Interaction: It types the query into the search bar and simulates pressing "Enter."
4. Data Extraction: The script uses DOM selectors to extract and log search result titles.

Extending the Script

1. Scrape URLs:

   • Modify the

     evaluate

     block to extract URLs:

     const results = await page.evaluate(() => {
      const links = [];
      const elements = document.querySelectorAll('a'); // Get all links
      elements.forEach(element => {
      if (element.href) links.push(element.href);
      });
      return links;
     });
     

2. Save Data:

   • Save the extracted data to a file:

     const fs = require('fs');
     fs.writeFileSync('results.json', JSON.stringify(results, null, 2));
     

3. Automate Login:

   • Use Puppeteer to log in to a website:

     await page.type('#username', 'your-username');
     await page.type('#password', 'your-password');
     await page.click('#login-button');
     

4. Schedule Automation:

   • Use a task scheduler like

     cron

     (Linux/macOS) or Task Scheduler (Windows) to run the script periodically.

5. Handle Complex Workflows:

   • Use Playwright if you need multi-browser support or advanced features:

     npm install playwright
     

Use Cases for RPA with JavaScript

1. Web Scraping: Extract data from websites.
2. Form Filling: Automate filling and submitting online forms.
3. Testing: Automate end-to-end testing of web applications.
4. Data Entry: Input data into web-based applications.
5. Price Monitoring: Track prices on e-commerce websites.